The share of total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports continued dropping to 15.57% (12 month moving average; compared to 15.72% in February 2023 and 16.89% in March 2022).

California remained the #2 state, behind Texas with 20.07% (compared to 19.92% in February 2023 and 18.49% in March 2022). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 29.72% (compared to 29.74% in February 2023 and 29.9% in March 2022).

While California continues to lose ground from its previous dominant position, the state remains the second biggest center of trade activity which in turn supports one of California’s largest centers of middle-class, blue-collar jobs. Transportation & Warehousing alone provided 794,000 wage and salary jobs in the most recent data from March 2023.  Support and supply industries increased the jobs total further.

Total California goods exports were down $0.7 billion from March 2022 (down 4.3%) in nominal terms. In real terms, exports compared to pre-pandemic March 2019 were not substantially changed, down 6.2%. 

California remained in 2nd place with 8.83% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 23.14%.

Reflecting a number of factors—including continuing uncertainty over the West Coast port labor talks and uncertainty over a potential downturn later this year—total California destination goods imports were down sharply by $9.7 billion from March 2023 (down 20.5%) in nominal terms.  In real terms, however, imports were up 9.7% compared to pre-pandemic March 2019.